Marvalee H. Wake

The Reproductive Biology of Caecilians: An Evolutionary Perspective

Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) are elongate, limbless, burrowing or swimming animals. They are pan-tropical in distribution and, until recently, infrequently seen by collectors. The relationships of caecilians to other amphibians are enigmatic (Carroll and Currie 1975), and relationships among caecilian genera and species are poorly understood. The acquisition of the attenuate habitus has been accompanied by changes of suites of morphological features, including those of the reproductive system. Concomitantly, a number of aspects of the physiology and ecology of the group have adapted, so that features of the reproductive biology and life histories of caecilians provide considerable information of use in analyzing patterns of evolution.

Tooth crown morphology in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)

The morphology of tooth crowns is variable inter‐specifically among caecilians. Cusp number and shape, crown dimensions, and crown curvature characterize various species and have both functional and phylogenetic implications. Ichthyophis, Uraeotyphlus, Hypogeophis, and Geotrypetes have bicuspid teeth; Dermophis, Gymnopis, Caecilia, and Typhlonectes monocuspid. Crown morphology as revealed by scanning electron microscopy is associated with prey grasping and, in one case, possible specialization of prey type.

Electrophoretic patterns of certain proteins in caecilians (amphibia: gymnophiona)

Abstract 1. 1. A maximum of 15 loci from five genera of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona or Apoda) were examined. Species include Ichthyophis glutinosus, Geotrypetes seraphini, Caecilia occidentalis, Gymnopis multiplicata , and Dermophis mexicanus . 2. 2. The data indicate that Ichthyophis (family Ichthyophiidae) is less closely related than are the other genera (members of the family Caeciliidae). Dermophis and Gymnopis , which on other grounds are considered closely related, are no more similar to each other than are other caeciliid genera.